The popular 83-year-old monarch shocked the country last summer when he signaled his desire to take a back seat after nearly three decades on the Chrysanthemum Throne, citing his age and health problems.

Japanese researchers say they've found a species of algae that could help decontaminate radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. But they say the plant's owners don't seem very interested in the idea.

Utada Hikaru was the first Japanese musician to do it all. Sing, write and be a pop star. She quickly became one of the country's most successful musicians — a position no one has managed to take from her.

Just an hour and half from Hiroshima lies the tiny island of Okunojima, probably better known as Rabbit Island. The island is populated by bunnies and tourists feeding those bunnies — but if you look closely you can see remnants of the island's past.

For $45 a day, you can send your toy on a Tokyo tour, with stops at tourist hot spots like the Tokyo Tower, The Imperial Palace and the Meiji Jingu Shrine. For an additional charge, your stuffed animal can also spend a day at the spa. Oh, and, you're not invited along.

Not everyone who evacuated the area near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant four years actually had to leave. But four years later, despite government reassurances — and plenty of pressure — they say returning to their homes still isn't safe.